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Full Idea
Because each one of us understands what he thinks, and that in thinking he can shut himself off from every other substance, we may conclude that each of us is really distinct from every other thinking substance and from corporeal substance.
Gist of Idea
In thinking we shut ourselves off from other substances, showing our identity and separateness
Source
René Descartes (Principles of Philosophy [1646], I.60)
Book Ref
Descartes,René: 'Philosophical Essays and Correspondence', ed/tr. Ariew,Roger [Hackett 2000], p.247
A Reaction
This seems to be a novel argument which requires elucidation. I can 'shut myself off from every other substance'? If I shut myself off from thinking about food, does that mean hunger is not part of me? Or convince yourself that you don't have a brother?
5266 | It would seem that the thinking part is the individual self [Aristotle] |
1401 | Since I only observe myself to be thinking, I conclude that that is my essence [Descartes] |
2299 | I can exist without imagination and sensing, but they can't exist without me [Descartes] |
6907 | For Descartes a person's essence is the mind because objects are perceived by mind, not senses [Descartes, by Feuerbach] |
5017 | In thinking we shut ourselves off from other substances, showing our identity and separateness [Descartes] |
6721 | Ideas are perceived by the mind, soul or self [Berkeley] |
1352 | Thoughts change continually, but the self doesn't [Reid] |
5549 | Mental representations would not be mine if they did not belong to a unified self-consciousness [Kant] |